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Dr.  GRIFFIN'S  ORATION. 


ORATION 

DELIVERED  JUNE  21,  1809, 

ON    THE    DAY 

OF    THE    AUTHOR'S    INDUCTION    INTO    THE    OFFICE 

°F 

BARTLET  PROFESSOR  OF  PULPIT  ELOQUENCE, 

IN  THE 

DIVINITY  COLLEGE, 

AT  ANDOVER. 

J 

BY  EDWARD   D.  GRIFFIN,   D.  D. 

PUBLISHED  «!'    REQl  HS1    OF  THE   TRUSTEES. 


fl 


BOSTON, 

PUBLISHED  BY  FARRAND,  MALLORY  AND  CO. 
SUFFOLK     BUILDINGS. 


BELCHER,  PRINTER. 


ORATION. 


On  this  occasion,  and  before  such  an  au- 
dience, I  rise  embarrassed :  but  I  rise  with  a 
mind  affected  and  animated  by  the  interesting 
scene.  Brought  hither  by  the  exertions  of 
beneficence,  of  which  the  occasion  forbids  me 
to  speak,  I  am  come,  to  co-operate,  as  the  feeble- 
ness of  my  powers  will  permit,  in  measures 
which  originated  in  prayer,  and  were  dictated,  as 
I  believe,  by  the  Spirit  of  God.  I  am  come, 
with  what  ability  I  have,  to  second  exertions 
which,  distinguished  already  with  signal  success, 
have  the  honour  of  preparing  the  way  for  what- 
ever is  yet  to  follow. 

However  I  may  tremble  under  a  sense  of  in- 
competency  to  discharge  the  duties  assigned 


me,  I  know  that  the  expression  of  my  feelings 
would  appear  like  affectation.  I  shall,  therefore, 
only  congratulate  myself  on  the  candour  which 
I  am  sure  to  meet,  the  wisdom  and  talents 
around  me  to  which  I  can  resort,  and  the  ability 
with  which  the  concerns  of  this  institution,  inde- 
pendently of  my  aid,  will  be  conducted. 

The  noble  efforts  which  have  been  made  to 
erect  this  school  of  the  prophets, — to  bring  forth 
this  child  of  prayer, — have  formed  a  new  era  in 
the  American  Church,  and  turned  the  publick 
eye,  with  eagerness  and  hope,  towards  this  place. 
Already  are  our  brethren  sending  up  prayers  to 
heaven,  from  every  part  of  our  country,  for  the 
prosperity    of  this   infant   seminary.       Already 

with  tears  they  have  blessed  the  men but  I 

must  consider  where  I  stand.  I  may,  however, 
be  permitted  to  say,  that  the  distant  churches  of 
our  country  are  animated  with  joyful  expecta- 
tion that  this  institution  will  prove  a  fountain 
to  make  glad  the  city  of  God. 


I  stand,  this  clay,  upon  sacred  ground  ;  on 
ground  where  the  fathers  of  New- England  have 
often  prayed  ;  on  ground  which  has  been  conse- 
crated by  faith,  hope,  and  charity,  to  the  living 
God  ;  which  supports  an  institution  designed 
to  perpetuate  the  faith  of  our  ancestors,  and  to 
bless  an  unborn  offspring.  What  reverence  be- 
comes the  place  !  Shall  I  take  off  the  shoes  from 
my  feet  !  I  bow  before  the  majesty  and  sacred- 
ness  of  the  object  to  which  this  ground  is  devo- 
ted !  The  business  to  be  conducted  here  is,  in 
the  highest  degree,  benevolent  ;  and  will  have 
incalculable  influence  on  the  present  and  future 
happiness  of  men.  This  is  not  the  place  to  form 
generals  for  fame  and  for  carnage  ;  but  youthful 
Gideons,  to  lead  "the  sacramental  host  of  God's 
elect"  to  fight  the  battles  of  their  King  ; — to 
fight  with  tears,  not  with  swords  ;  to  wield  the 
weapon  of  prayer,  instead  of  spears  ;  and  to  car- 
ry to  the  assailed  mercy,  instead  of  death.  This 
is  not  the  place  to  form  statesmen,  to  settle  the 
little  concerns  of  nations ;  but  ministers  of 
Christ,  to  manage,  under  their  king,  the  interests 


8 

of  an  immortal  kingdom, — a  kingdom  which 
will  shine  with  the  splendours  of  heaven,  when 
all  the  kingdoms  of  men  shall  be  no  more.  This 
is  not  the  place  to  elicit  the  sparks  of  forensick 
eloquence,  or  to  raise  up  men  to  shine  in  national 
debate  ;  but  to  fit  young  evangelists  to  pour  the 
strains  of  immortal  truth,  and  to  plead  before  a 
dying  race  the  cause  of  God,  and  His  anointed 
Son.  Generals  may  conquer,  and  statesmen 
may  rule  ;  but  there  is  no  work  so  great  or  so 
good,  as  that  of  a  gospel  minister.  If  the  me- 
mory of  a  Howard  is  blessed,  for  visiting  the 
prisons  and  lazarettos  of  Europe,  to  relieve  tem- 
poral distress,  surely  they  ought  not  to  hold  a 
thankless  office,  who  spend  their  lives  in  efforts 
to  deliver  their  brethren  from  the  prison  of 
endless  despair,  the  lazaretto  of  eternal  disease. 

Here  such  men  are  to  be  formed  : — not  your 
fustian  declaimers, — not  your  dull  retailers  of 
Seneca  and  Plato  ;  but  men,  we  hope,  of  faith 
and  of  a  sound  mind,  valiant  champions  for 
the    truth,    animated  with  the    spirit  of  mar- 


9 

tyrs,  and  ready,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to 
meet  a  world  in  arms  !  Blessed  institution,  if  it 
may  prove  the  alma  mater  of  such  a  generation 
of  men  !  Happy  visitors,  happy  trustees  and 
professors,  who  are  employed  in  rearing  a  semi- 
nary for  a  purpose  so  divine  !  But  blessed 
beyond  others  are  they  whose  hands  have  laid 
the  foundation  !  But  I  forbear  ;  their  record  is 
in  heaven. 

This  day  I  have  the  honour  to  enter  upon 
the  duties  of  this  highly  responsible  station,  and 
the  happiness  to  form  an  affectionate  union  with 
my  reverend  colleagues.  We  shall  have  but 
one  heart,  and  one  mind  ;  and  shall  find  min- 
gled with  our  labours  the  comforts  of  mutual 
friendship  :  but,  without  higher  support,  we 
shall  sink  with  the  exclamation  on  our  tongues, 
Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  !  If  the  office 
of  a  gospel  minister  is  loaded  with  responsi- 
bility, which  causes  the  firmest  mind  to  trem- 
ble, what  is  the  charge  of  preparing  men  for 
that  sacred  office  !  What  am  /  to  do  !  Am  I  to 
teach  others  how  to  preach  the  adored  name  of 
Jesus  !  I  have  scarcely  learned  to  lisp  that  name 


10 

myself.  May  it  please  Him  who  separated  me 
from  my  mother's  womb,  and  made  me  what  I 
am,  to  reveal  His  Son  in  me,  to  guide  this  stam- 
mering tongue,  and  touch  these  lips  with  a  coal 
from  His  altar ! 

The  gospel  is  committed  to  earthern  ves- 
sels ;  for  a  reason  which  gives  delight  to  every 
pious  heart, — that  the  excellency  of  the  power 
may  be  of  God,  and  not  of  us.  It  is  not  the  ob- 
ject of  divinity-schools  to  take  this  power  out  of 
the  hands  of  God,  nor  to  mould  any  other  than 
eathern  vessels.  After  all  the  pains  which  may 
be  employed  to  shape  and  polish  them,  they  arc 
earthern  vessels  still ;  and  still  the  excellency  of 
the  power  must  be  of  God  alone. 

Preachers  of  the  gospel  can  do  no  more 
than  to  set  before  their  brethren  motives  to  vir- 
tue and  godliness.  But  the  only  motives  which 
God  has  appointed,  are  those  which  His  word 
contains:  no  others,  therefore,  are  ministers 
commissioned  to  employ.  That  eloquence  only 
is  worthy  of  the  pulpit,  which  consists  in  dis- 


11 

playing  and  enforcing,  to  the  best  advantage,  the 
various  truths  contained  in  the  sacred  scriptures. 

These  truths,  and  these  alone,  are  the  srvord 
of  the    Spirit— the  fire  and  the  hammer  that 
breaketh   the   rock   in  pieces.      They   are  the 
grand   weapons  which  God  employs  to  subdue 
the  world  :  and  in  proportion  to  the   dexterity 
with  which  they  are  wielded  by  His  servants,  is 
ordinarily   the  extent  of  the  conquest.     Often, 
indeed,  are  these  truths   preached  without  any 
accompanying   influence   to  give  them   effect; 
and  they  are  sometimes  made  more  effectual  in 
the   hands  of  the  weakest  instruments,  than,  at 
other   times,  when   illustrated  and  enforced  by 
the  most   splendid  talents.     This   is  wisely  or- 
dered to  abase  the   pride  of  man,  and  to  show 
him    his    absolute    dependance   on    sovereign 
grace.      It   is    designed   to   utter   a  language 
which  cannot  be  too  often   repeated  :    Not  by 
might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  saith  the 
Lord.     I  admit,  also,   that  humble  dependance 
on  God,  accompanied   with  earnest  desires  for 
the  salvation  of  men,  and  fervent  prayer,   will 


12 

have  more  influence  on  the  success  of  a  minis- 
ter, than  the  most  persuasive  eloquence.     But 
after  all  these  concessions,  such  is  the  manner 
of  divine  operation,    that,  other  things   being 
equal,  the  success  of  the  gospel  is  ordinarily  in 
proportion  to  the  clearness  and  force  with  which 
it  is  preached.     This  is  true,  or  why  do  minis- 
ters exert  themselves  to  preach  in  a  persuasive, 
or  even  an  instructive  manner  ?    Why  do  they 
preach  at  all  ?    If  truth  be  not  a  divine  instru- 
ment, preaching  is  in  vain.     If  it  be,    its  effect 
may  be  expected  to  bear  some  proportion  to  the 
skilfulness  with  which  is  it  handled  and  applied. 
This  important  conclusion,  while  it  affords  mi- 
nisters abundant  encouragement  to  preach  the 
gospel,  equally  encourages  them  to  study  the  best 
manner  of  exhibiting  its  sacred  truths  ;  and  en- 
courages them  as  fully  as  though  success  de- 
pended on  the  mere  power  of  moral  suasion. 

These,  then,  are  the  positions  which  lie  at 
the  foundation  of  all  instruction  in  this  depart- 
ment ;  that  the  power  is  of  God,  that  God  works 
by  the  instrumentality  of  His  own  truth,  that  He 


13 

applies  no  other  instrument  to  the  heart,  and 
that  the  effect  is  ordinarily  in  proportion  to  the 
clearness  and  force  with  which  that  truth  is 
preached. 

It  results  from  these  positions,  that  the  per- 
fection of  pulpit  eloquence  consists  in  display- 
ing the  most  affecting  gospel  truths,  in  the 
most  impressive  manner.  The  highest  efforts 
of  eloquence  can  achieve  no  more  than  to 
bring  these  truths  into  contact  with  the  con- 
sciousness of  the  mind,  and  the  feeling  of  the 
heart, — to  lodge  them,  as  it  were,  among  the 
sensibilities  of  the  soul. 

The  great  question  is,  How  can  this  be 
done  ?  It  is  evident  that  a  preacher's  manner 
may  be  such  as  to  awaken  attention,  and  draw 
his  hearers  to  a  nearer  and  more  steady  view 
of  the  truths  which  he  wishes  to  exhibit.  By 
the  skilfulness  of  his  address,  he  may  also  re- 
move prejudices,  and  leave  nothing  to  encoun- 
ter but  opposition  to  the  truth  itself,  in- 
stead of  forming  an  unnecessary  combination 
against  him. 


14 

But  this  is  not  all.  He  may  avail  himself 
of  the  aid  of  some  of  the  secondary  powers  of 
our  nature.  That  these  powers  were  created 
for  handmaids  to  religion,  will  be  manifest  to 
any  one  who  will  consider  the  purpose  of  di- 
vine wisdom  in  the  institution  of  sacred  musick; 
or  who  will  trace  those  elevated  flights  of  ima- 
gination, and  those  strong  appeals  to  the  pas- 
sions, which  are  found  in  the  poetick  parts 
of  scripture. 

The  imagination  is  a  reflecting  glass,  which 
casts  a  fuller  light  on  the  objects  that  pass  be- 
fore the  eye.  By  the  aid  of  this  faculty,  a 
more  vivid  sense  of  divine  objects  is  produced, 
and  all  the  motives  which  the  scriptures  pre- 
sent are  more  deeply  impressed  on  the  mind. 

The  natural  affections,  also,  may  be  pressed 
into  the  service  ol  the  preacher.  Daily  expe- 
rience teaches  us  that  these  affections  are  ave- 
nues to  the  soul,  through  which  divine  truth  is 
introduced.  When  a  parent  hangs  over  the 
bed  of  a  dying  child,  he  feels  the  worth  of  a 


15 

soul,  as  he  never  felt  it  when  looking  upon 
the  children  of  the  streets.  The  abstract  truth, 
that  the  soul  is  of  immense  value,  has  found 
its  way  to  his  heart  through  the  avenue  of  the 
natural  affections.  The  impression  respects 
not  his  child  alone  ;  it  brings  with  it  an  increa- 
sed sense  of  the  value  of  souls  in  general.  It 
conies  coupled  with  other  truths, — the  worth 
of  the  gospel,  the  unspeakable  love  of  Him 
who  died  for  our  redemption.  These,  and  other 
kindred  truths,  are  felt  as  they  would  not  be, 
were  the  parent  standing  by  the  dying  bed  of 
a  stranger. 

A  child  has  disobeyed  and  grieved  an  af- 
fectionate mother.  No  remorse  seizes  him, 
till  through  some  aperture  he  sees  her  tears  fall- 
ing in  secret.  The  sight  pierces  him  to  the 
heart.  At  once  the  sin  of  disobedience  to  pa- 
rents rises  before  him,  and  is  felt  as  it  never 
would  have  been,  had  she  who  bore  him  been 
less  beloved. 

In  the  same  manner  all  the  leading  truths  of 


16 

divine  revelation  may  be  introduced  through 
the  avenue  of  the  natural  affections.  This  ave- 
nue, then,  will  not  be  overlooked  by  a  pious 
minister,  anxious  to  find  all  the  passes  which 
lead  to  the  hearts  of  his  hearers. 

Divine  truth  may  enter  through  the  me- 
dium, also,  of  sympathy.  When  the  counte- 
nance, the  tones,  the  action,  of  a  preacher,  all 
express  a  solemn  sense  of  everlasting  realities, 
those  realities  are  more  deeply  felt  by  his  hear- 
ers ;  for  the  same  reason  that  the  example  of 
a  virtuous  and  devout  man  is  the  most  con- 
vincing and  impressive  preacher  on  earth. 

But  through  whatever  medium  an  impres- 
sion is  made  on  the  mind,  it  mast  be  made  by 
divine  truth,  or  it  is  made  in  vain.  And  it 
must  be  made  by  the  power  of  God.  We  do 
not  expect,  nor  desire  to  send  forth  preachers, 
with  powers  of  persuasion  competent  of  them- 
selves to  triumph  over  human  ignorance  and 
opposition.  Paul  may  plant,  and  Apollos  mar 
water ;  but  it  is  God  who  gives  the  increase. 


17 

Ministers     may   indeed    convince   the   under- 

standing,   and  affect  the  passions,  without  any 

special  interposition  of  God.     They  may  preach 

what  the  divine  Spirit  may  effectually  apply  to 

the  heart.     But   the   success  of  the  gospel   is 

ensured,  not  by  human  eloquence,  but  by  the 

interpositions   of  omnipotent   grace.      This  is 

true  in  the  fullest  and  most  absolute  sense.  It  is 

as  true  as  that  the  sound  of  trumpets   did   not 

demolish  the  walls  of  Jericho  ;  as  that  the  three 

hundred  men,  standing  still  in  their  place,  did 

not  destroy  the  hosts  of  Midian  ;    as  that  the 

God  of  the  armies  of  Israel,  and  not  the  sling 

and  the  stone,  prevailed  against  the  champion  of 

the  Philistines. 

These  are  some  of  the  ways  through  which, 
with  dependance  on  God,  divine  truth  is  to 
be  introduced  to  the  apprehension  and  feeling 
of  men.  But  how  to  manage  the  different 
powers  of  the  mind,  in  subserviency  to  this 
end,  is  one  of  the  nicest  points  to  be  examined 
in  the  study  of  pulpit  eloquence. 


18 

The  understanding,  as  the  leading  faculty, 
must  chiefly  be  addressed.  But  the  labour 
of  the  preacher  does  not  end  here,  as  though 
the  soul  were  nothing  but  intellect.  There 
is  a  conscience  to  be  affected.  Men  must 
not  only  possess  speculative  knowledge ;  they 
must  feel  the  pungency  of  divine  truth, — 
the  conviction  of  obligation  and  ill  desert. 
Their  conscience  must  be  assailed  by  the  so- 
lemn application  of  truth  to  themselves.  The 
affections  must  indeed  be  reached  through  the 
understanding  and  conscience  ;  but  not  by  a 
cold  dissertation  on  abstract  propositions, — they 
must  be  touched  by  objects  placed  in  their  most 
affecting  attitudes,  and  by  truth  tenderly  ap- 
plied to  the  heart.  No  attempt  to  excite  the 
affections  ought  to  be  made,  except  for  some 
useful  end.  Addresses  to  the  passions  merely  to 
melt  the  mass,  without  seizing  the.  occasion  to  fix 
the  stamp  of  truth,  is  an  artifice  infinitely  be- 
neath a  preacher  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  In 
a  mind  properly  disciplined,  the  imagination  will 
keep  pace  with  the  affections.  It  must  never 
outstrip  them.      When  the    imagination  of   a 


19 


preacher  gets  unharnessed  from  the  affections, 
and  runs  wild,   it  leaves  an  audience  with  no 
better  emotion  than  wonder,   mingled  perhaps 
with  contempt.     The  power  of  sympathy  must 
also  be  brought  into  action  ;    but  for  this  pur- 
pose the  preacher  himself  must  feel.     No  imi- 
tation of  passion,  no  substitution  of  ardour  for 
real  feeling,  will  avail.     He  must  feel;  and  he 
must    express    his   feelings  in    the  language, 
tones,  looks,  and  gestures  of  nature.     No  thea- 
trical starts,  no  affectation  or  grimace,  no  pomp 
or  turgidity,  may  be  employed.     Nature  is  not 
less  the  perfection  of  this  art,  than  of  painting, 
statuary,   and  descriptive  poetry  :    and  one  of 
the  essential  attributes  of  nature  is  simplicity. 

The  basis  of  pulpit  eloquence,  then,  is 
good  sense  and  real  feeling  ; — good  sense  in- 
structed by  the  word  of  God,  and  real  feeling 
excited  by  His  Spirit.  Between  the  eloquence 
of  thought  and  the  eloquence  of  words,  the  dif- 
ference is  as  great  as  between  gold  and  dross. 
The  eloquence  of  thought  bears  away  the  soul ; 
the    eloquence   of  words  may  please   the  ear, 


20 

but  it  never  reached  the  heart.  It  is  a  pitiful 
device  to  gain  popularity,  unworthy  of  any  man 
of  sense,  and  in  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  ut- 
terly contemptible.  It  is  nothing  better  than 
a  detestable  species  of  clerical  foppery.  How 
infinitely  different  are  such  effeminate  effusions, 
from  the  dignity  and  solemnity  of  Christ's  ser- 
mon on  the  mount !  The  disgust  which  has 
been  often  produced  by  this  spurious  eloquence, 
has  excited  prejudices,  even  in  good  men,  a- 
gainst  every  attempt  to  improve  the  eloquence 
of  the  pulpit.  But  this  is  rushing  to  the  other 
extreme.  Was  not  Aaron  eloquent  ?  Was  not 
Apollos  eloquent  ?  Was  not  Paul  eloquent  ? 
WTas  not  Jesus  of  Nazareth  eloquent,  who  spake 
as  never  man  spake  ? 

The  masterly  specimens  of  Paul's  elo- 
quence, before  the  court  of  Areopagus,  on  the 
stairs  of  the  castle  Antonia,  and  before  Agrip- 
pa,  leave  no  ground  to  wonder  at  his  being- 
ranked,  even  by  a  heathen  writer,  among  the 
three  most  distinguished  orators  of  antiquity. 
But  the  eloquence  of  Paul  was  the  eloquence  of 


21 

thought.  His  preaching  was  not  with  the  en- 
ticing words  of  man's  wisdom  ;  but  in  demon- 
stration of  the  Spirit,  and  of  power.  He  came 
not  with  the  excellency  of *  speech,  not  with  the 
wisdom  of  words,  lest  the  cross  of  Christ  should 
be  made  of  none  effect.  He  did  not  indeed 
deem  it  improper  to  seek  out,  like  the  royal 
preacher,  acceptable  xvords ;  but  the  force 
of  his  eloquence  lay  in  the  greatness  of  his 
conceptions,  poured  from  a  heart  warmed  by 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

Against  such  eloquence  who  will  venture  to 
object  ?  And  indeed  on  what  principle  can  you 
exclude  eloquence  from  the  pulpit,  while  you 
admit  it  at  the  bar,  and  in  deliberative  assem- 
blies ?  The  preacher  of  everlasting  truth  has  cer- 
tainly the  noblest  subjects  that  ever  elevated  and 
enkindled  the  soul  of  man  ; — not  the  intrigues 
of  a  Philip, — not  the  plots  of  a  Cataline  ; — but 
the  rebellion  of  angels, — the  creation  of  a 
world, — the  incarnation  and  death  of  the  Son 
of  God, — the  resurrection  of  men, — the  dis- 
solution of  nature, — the  general  judgment, — 


22 

and  the  final  confirmation  of  countless  millions 
of  men  and  angels  in  happiness  or  misery. — No 
subjects  are  so  sublime  ; — none  so  interesting 
to  the  feelings  of  a  reflecting  audience  :  no 
orator  was  himself  ever  so  deeply  interested  in 
his  subject,  as  a  godly  minister  is  in  the  truths 
which  he  presses  upon  his  hearers.  If  on  any 
topick  he  can  become  impassioned,  and  be  car- 
ried beyond  himself,  it  is  on  the  theme  of  im- 
mortal love,  and  the  everlasting  destinies  of  men. 

It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  there  is 
a  material  difference  between  the  eloquence  of 
the  pulpit,  and  that  of  the  bar,  or  popular  as- 
semblies. Cicero,  set  to  manage  concerns  of  a 
worldly  nature,  and  having  to  address  himself 
only  to  feelings  natural  to  men,  found  the  pas- 
sions which  he  wished  to  move  already  existing  : 
Paul  went  forth  as  an  instrument  to  create  new 
tastes,  and  to  awaken  feelings  which  nothing  but 
a  supernatural  influence  could  create.  Cicero 
could  rouse  the  selfish  passions, — could  give 
private  interest  a  tongue  to  plead  his  cause  ;  and 
never  appealed  to  any  thing  in  man  superior  to 


23 

the  natural  love  of  justice,  or  the  love  of  coun- 
try :  Paul,  commissioned  to  spread  the  triumphs 
of  universal  benevolence,  aimed  to  excite  none 
but  holy  feelings.  Cicero  sometimes  found  it 
his  interest,  by  unlawful  means,  to  enlist  the 
prejudices  of  the  judges.  He  would  introduce 
the  accused,  with  his  wife  and  children,  clad  in 
habiliments  of  mourning,  to  awaken  passions 
which  had  no  connexion  with  the  justice  of  his 
cause :  Paul  presented  nothing  but  the  truths 
of  God.  Cicero's  object  was  to  make  men  act  : 
Paul's  aim  was  lost  unless  they  acted  from  holy 
motives.  Cicero  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  dis- 
positions of  men,  further  than  to  carry  a  point : 
Paul's  point  was  the  disposition  itself.  Cicero 
relied  on  his  powers  of  persuasion,  as  he  depend- 
ed on  any  of  the  stated  operations  of  nature  ; 
for  there  was  a  natural  connexion  between  the 
motives  which  he  urged,  and  the  emotion  or 
action  which  he  wished  to  produce :  Paul  saw 
no  such  connexion  between  his  preaching  and 
the  salvation  of  men  ;  and  he  went  from  coun- 
try to  country  with  an  eye  of  dependance  im- 
moveably  fixed  on  the  throne  of  God.     And 


24 

yet  Paul  was  not  the  less  eloquent.     He  knew 

that  he  had  as  good  a  right,  and  he  found  as 
much  encouragement,  as  the  Roman  orator,   to 

employ  all  the  arts  of  persuasion  ;  only  he  con- 
fined himself  to  the  exhibition  of  divine  truth. 
And  it  was  not  in  vain  that  he  was  more  elo- 
quent than  other  men.  Not  only  did  he  charm 
the  ear,  and  chain  attention  to  his  lips  ;  not 
only  did  he  command  the  natural  avenues  to 
the  soul ;  but,  by  the  flashes  of  his  eloquence, 
he  threw  light  upon  the  understanding  and  con- 
science, as  another  man  could  not  have  done. 

These  remarks  are  intended,  in  some 
measure,  to  illustrate  the  importance  of  pulpit 
eloquence  ;  and  to  show  the  utility  of  a  course 
of  instruction  which  may  convey  to  our  youth 
some  just  ideas  of  this  sacred  art.  I  could  wish 
that  more  talents  and  piety,  that  more  learning 
and  taste,  were  combined  in  this  department. 
But  the  small  portion  of  these  qualifications 
which  has  fallen  to  my  lot,  will,  I  hope,  be 
steadily  devoted  to  the  object  in  view.  If,  by 
divine  aid,  I  may  be  so  happy  as  to  give  a 


25 

moderate  degree  of  satisfaction  to  the  friends  of 
the  institution,  and  render  some  service  to  the 
cause  of  Zion,  my  highest  hopes  will  be  an- 
swered, and  my  reward  will  be  great. 

But  whatever  may  be  the  result  of  efforts 
in  a  particular  department,  I  am  persuaded  that 
God  has  great  designs  to  answer  by  this  institu- 
tion. On  Him  it  is  the  duty  and  happiness  of 
founders,  visitors,  trustees,  and  professors,  to 
place  their  whole  dependance,  while  they  reve- 
rentially wait  for  His  blessing.  Without  Him 
we  all  know  that  we  can  do  nothing.  Without 
Him,  I  trust,  we  do  not  desire  to  do  any  thing. 
From  Him  be  all  the  strength,  and  to  Him  be 
all  the  glory  !  Encouraged,  however,  by  the 
smiles  with  which  He  has  already  deigned  to 
regard  the  institution, — encouraged,  moreover, 
by  the  prayers  which  He  is  calling  forth  from 
the  thousands  of  our  Israel, — and,  I  may  add, 
by  the  manifest  accordance  of  our  object  with 
His  revealed  will,  we  venture  to  hope, — to  hope 
with  humble  confidence,  that  He  has  great 
designs   to   answer    by   this    seminary.       We 


26 

trust  that  He  will  here  cause  to  be  taught  a 
system  of  correct  theology,  and  will  here  assist 
to  develope  the  sound  principles  of  sacred  li- 
terature. Here  our  youth,  we  hope,  will  catch 
that  spirit  of  prayer  by  which  this  infant  semi- 
nary was  conceived.  I  look  down  the  descent 
of  years,  and  see  the  blessed  influence  of  these 
measures  upon  our  churches.  I  see,  in  every 
place,  a  pious  and  learned  minister,  preaching 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  exerting  himself,  with 
apostolick  fervour,  for  the  salvation  of  men, 
forming  among  his  people  associations  for 
prayer,  and  weeping  for  joy  to  behold  the  tri- 
umphs of  redeeming  grace.  I  see  aged  Si- 
meons, with  every  desire  accomplished,  ready  to 
depart ;  and  children  climbing  a  father's  knees 
to  hear  of  Christ.  I  hear  the  loud  hosanna,  the 
shout,  the  praise,  the  joy,  of  thousands  !  My 
soul  is  borne  away  in  fancied  visions  !  May 
that  Saviour  who  formed  this  whole  design,  and 

laid  the  corner  stone  of  yonder  edifice, may 

that  Saviour  to  whose  honour  those  walls,  and 
all  that  they  enclose,  are  forever  consecra- 
ted, make  the  vision  real ! 


27 

Spirits  of  our  ancestors,  hail !  I  am  come 
to  the  land  of  my  fathers.  I  am  come  to  the 
region  which  received  the  pilgrims,  when  they 
fled  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  I  have  gazed,  as  I 
have  passed  along,  upon  enclosures  which,  I 
supposed,  might  contain  their  venerable  dust. 
I  felt  something  like  inspiration  as  I  heard,  or 
seemed  to  hear,  the  tones  of  their  dying  prayer  : 
"  God  of  mercy,  to  whose  arms  we  are  com- 
ing, bless  our  offspring  !  Preserve  the  churches 
which,  by  our  means,  thou  hast  planted  in  this 

new  world  !" 1   arrived  on  this  ground;   I 

looked  upon  yonder  newly  erected  walls  ;  I 
saw  the  prayers  of  our  fathers  answered  ;  I  saw 
their  sons  toiling  to  support  the  very  truths  for 
which  the  pilgrims  suffered.  I  anticipated  the 
glorious  result.  In  the  vale  of  future  years,  I 
saw  our  pious  and  venerable  fathers  living  again 
in  their  posterity.  I  saw  the  resurrection  of 
our  Eliots,  our  Cottons,  our  Mathers,  our 
Phillipses.  The  vision  was  transporting.  Di- 
vine Saviour,  whose  honours  men  have  taken 
from  thee,  make  the  vision  real ! 


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